Improvement in steam steering apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. P. MANTON. Steam Steering-Apparatus. No. 208,833.

Patented Oct. 8,1878v lllllv WITNESSES.

,IVIIIIII INVENTOR.

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ILPETERS. FHOTO LTTHOGRAPRER WASHINGTON. D Cv 3 Sheets-Sheet 2..

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J. P. MANTON. Steam Steering-Apparatus. No. 208,833. Patented Oct.8,1878! WITNESSES I INVENTOR @WM ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH I. MANTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,833, dated October9, 1878; application filed September 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH 1. MANTON, of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Steering Apparatus; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in steering apparatus, the objectbeing to provide a steering-gear of such construction that it may beoperated by hand in the ordinary manner, and also be operated bysteam-power in such a manner that the rudder will be moved by the powerof steam, and held in any desired position by worm-gearing.

My invention consists, first, in the combination, with a handsteering-gear, of worm-gearing, constructed to be connected with ordisconnected from the shaft of the hand steeringgear, and suitablesteam-engines for actuating the worm-gearing, whereby the rudder of avessel may be moved by hand or steam, and held in any position desiredby worm-gearing.

My invention further consists in the combination, with the shaft of ahand steering-gear having a worm-gear loosely journaled thereon, of anannular rotary locking-disk for connectin g and disconn ecting theworm-gear and shaft of the hand steering-gear.

My invention further consists in certain other novel featuresin theconstruction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter bedescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly insection, of my improved steering apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end view of thesame. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the gear-wheel andrevolving locking disk. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the slidevalves and ports of the steam-engine; and Fig. 5 shows a differentialvalve for regulating the flow of steam to and from the cylinders of thesteam-engines. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a section of the gearwheeland connecting and disconnecting devices.

A is the barrel, and 13 the hand-wheels, of a hand steering-gear. U is ashaft, to which the barrel 1B is rigidly secured by keys (I, or in anyother desired manner.

Shaft O is supported in suitable bearings I) in the upright posts orstandards 0. On one end of the shaft 0 is loosely journaled a gearwheel,D, which is preferably constructed with a hub or an elongated bearing,(1, on one side thereof, in order to insure an extended hearing on theshaft and prevent lateral movement or wabbling of the gear-wheel.

The outer face of gear-wheel D is recessed for the reception of a disk,E, which is rigidly secured to the shaft 0.

Within an annular groove, 0, in the periphery of disk E is placed anannular lockin g disk or ring, F, which is free to turn on the disk E,and is provided with any desired number of sockets c in its periphery toadmit of the insertion of a hand-bar to turn the same.

The periphery of the disk E is provided with an open slot or recess, f,in which is placed a a block, 6, having a shank, g, which latter portionprojects through an inclined slot, 9, in the movable ring or disk F. Theprojecting flange G of the gear-wheel is also provided with any desirednumber of open slots or recesses 1 which correspond in size and shape tothe recess f in disk E.

lVhen it is desired to lock the gear-wheel l) to the shaft O the latteris turned by the hamlwheels until the shank or pin 9 is brought intoline with one of the recesses g in the gear-wheel. The ring F is thenturned to ward the right or in a direction to force the shank g of thelocking-block G from the inner end, h, of the inclined slot 9 toits'onter end, h, and thus raise the block G a sufficient distance toconnect the gear-wheel with the disk F and cause it to be revolved inunison therewith.

While any suitable mechanism may be employed for retaining those partsin a locked position, I have illustrated one method for effecting thisend. To the'disk E is secured a spring, H, the free end of which restsagainst the outer face of the revolving ring F, the latter beingprovided with notches or depressions 7L2 h diametrically opposite theends of the inclined slot. \Vhen the ring is in a locked position, thefree end of the spring engages in the depression or notch 11* andretains the parts against displacement.

\Vhen it is desired to operate the hand steering-gear, the ring 1 isturned in the opposite direction until the shank of the engaging-blockis situated at the inner end of the inclined slot; and when in thisposition the free end of the spring will rest in the notch or depressionI1 and hold the parts in an unlocked position.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to theseparticular devices for effecting this result, as many other devicesmight be employed for the same purpose.

I I are two high-pressure steam-engines, preferably located on oppositesides of the hand-steering gear, and arranged to connect with thedriving-shaft by pitmen 1, the inner ends of which are attached tocross-heads 2', and outer ends to cranks i on opposite ends of thedriving-shaft. J is a worm attached to the driving-shaft, and arrangedto engage with the cogs of the gear-wheel 1). Each one of thesteanrengincs is constructed with a central exhaust-port, j, andsteam-ports j j*, leading to opposite ends of the cylinder. A suitablesteani-pipe, K, conveys steam to the passages k k, located near theopposite ends of the cylinder, while the exhaust-steam is conducted fromthe cylinder by means of the exhaust-pipe 1.. Ports I I are connected bysteam-passages F I with the steam-inlet passages 7: Ir. M is a B-valve,the stem )1 of which is attached to one end of a connectingrod, M theopposite cml of the latter being attached to an eccentric-strap, Msurrounding the driving-shaft. Valve .'\l is provided withsteam-passages m m and exhaust-pa sage m Vhen the valve is in theposition illustrated in Fig. 4, steam is admitted through steam-inlet k,passage 1', and port I, through the steampassage m in the valve, intothe steam-port], to .the left-hand end of the cylinder, and serves todrive the piston to the right. The steam on the opposite side of thepiston exhausts through port j through exhaust-steam passage m into thecentral exhaust-passage. \Vhen the valve is reversed, steam will beadmitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder, and exhausted from theopposite end, as above described.

Fig. 5 illustrates the construction of valve and operating mechanism forregulating the flow of steam to and from the engine. 1) is avalve-casing, provided at or near its center with a steam-inlet passage,0. and at one end with an outlet-passage, (V. \"alve-casing is providedwith two ports, 0 o, located at opposite ends thereof. lort o connectswith the steam-pipe K, and port o with pipe 1.. The casing is preferablyprovided with annular chambers o o" snrroundingthe same, adjacent toports 0 o, and with any desired number of steam passages or openings o,through the shell of the casing, to connect its interior with saidannular chambers, and thus provide a free passage for the steam inletand outlet and balance the valve as nearly as is possible.

1 represents a hollow cylindrical valve constructed with suitable wingsfor the attachment ot'thc \illYWSitlll l to a central hub, l". Theperiphery of the valve is provided with an aunularrecess, I), while itsopposite ends or pistons p p are of sutiieient width to slightly overlapthe ports, and are furnished with any form of piston-packing desired.

\Vhen the valve is in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, steam willenter the iuletpassageto the casing and flow through the annular recessp, and from thence through the port 0 to the steam-pipe leading to theengine, while the steam is exhausted through port a and flows outthrough the exhaust-passage connecting with the end of the valve-casing.

\Vhen it is desired to reverse the engines, the hollow valve is shiftedto the opposite end of the casing, when steam will flow to the enginethrough port o and pipe L, while the steam will exhaust through pipe K,port 0, and through the center of the hollow valve.

Valve 1 is operated as follows: Upon one end of the shaft C of the handsteering-gear is placed a trick-wheel, Q, which is provided with aneccentric-bearin g, Q. An eccentricv strap or plate, It, is fitted 011the bearing Q, and has one end of a rod, It, attached thereto, theopposite end being pivoted to a crank, S, secured to a rock-shaft, S.The ends of the rockshaft S are provided with cranks S to which arepivoted connecting-rods T, the opposite ends of which are pivoted to thevalve-rods 1". By turning the trick-wheel either to the right or leftthe rock-shaft is turned in its bearings and the hollow valves movedeither to the right. or left, as desired.

When the gear-wheel is disconnected from the shaft of the hand-gear thelatter is operated in the ordinary manner; but when from any cause it isdesired to provide increased power, both for moving the rudder and forholding the same, the gear-wheel is readily locked to the shaft in themanner heretofore described, and by operating the trick-wheel the ruddermay be moved either to larboard or starboard, and held in any desiredposition by the wormgearing.

It will be observed that, owing to the large size of the gear-wheel, ascompared with the diameter of the worm, the cogs on the gearwhcel are oflow pitch, so that the worm-gearing constitutes a perfect lock for thesteering apparatus and prevents any sudden shocks or strains on thesteam-engines, the only oiiice of the latter being to move the rudderthe desired direction and distance.

it is evident that many changes in slight details of construction, andalso in the relative arrangements of the several parts of the apparatus,may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention;and hence I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to theexact construction shown and described; but,

'w Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a hand steering gear, of a gear-wheel adaptedto be locked to the shaft of the hand-gear and a driving-shaft operatedby one or more steam-engines, said driving-shaft provided with a worm,which is in constant engagement with said gear-wheel, substantiallyas'set forth.

2. The combination, with the shaft of a hand steering-gear, of agear-wheel provided with an elongated hub or bearing projecting from oneside thereof and a disk or wheel located on the opposite side of thegear-wheel and rigidly secured to the shaft of the hand-steerer,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a disk attached to the shaft of a handsteering-gear, said disk provided with a catch or locking block, of agear-wheel loosely secured upon said shaft and constructed with recesses(one or more) for the reception of said locking-block, and means formoving said block into and out of the recesses in "the gear-wheel,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the shaft of a hand steering-gear, of agear-wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, said gear-wheel having arecess formed in one side thereof, and a disk rigidly secured to theshaft and fitting within said recess in the gear-wheel, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination, with a gear wheel loosely mounted upon the shaft ofa hand steering-gear, and a disk or wheel rigidly secured thereto, of arevolving ring provided with an inclined slot and a locking-block, aportion of which projects into said inclined slot or opening,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a gearwheel loosely mounted upon the shaft of ahandsteerer, a wheel or disk rigidly secured thereto, and a revolvingring for actuating the connectinganddisconnectingmechanism,ofmeans forsecuring the ring to the wheel or disk on the shaft, substantially asset forth.

7. The combination, with a valve governing the flow of steam to thesteam-engines of a steam steering apparatus, of a trick wheelconstructed with an eccentric-bearing, an eccentic strap or plate fittedto said eccentricbearing on the trick-wheel, and suitable interveningmechanism connecting the eccentric strap or plate with the steam-valve,whereby the position of the latter maybe regulated by turning saidtrick-wheel, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with avalve constructed and arranged to regulate theflow of steam to the engines of a steam steering apparatus, of atrick-wheel constructed with an eccentricbearing and a rod connectedtherewith by a suitable strap or plate, the opposite end of the rodbeing pivoted to a crank on a rock-shaft, which latter in its movementactuates the valve by means of a connecting-rod, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this10th day of September, 1878.

JOSEPH P. MANTON.

WVitnesses:

HENRY J. SPooNER, J. T. P. BUCKLIN.

